Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner speaks out after being cleared in expenses row

CLEARED Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said he had learnt lessons about the need for speedy justice after his 13-month ordeal over his expenses.

The former milkman was told on Thursday he would not face prosecution over his claims for £1,550 when a Labour county councillor.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there was no evidence of dishonesty concerning the disputed cash claims, more than a year after former Tory county councillor Sam Chapman made the allegations.

Mr Grunshaw said: “I have certainly learnt lessons from this.

“It has been hanging over me for 13 months and I am very relieved it is all over.

“I have learnt to be very careful with my expenses in the future.

“The CPS proved what I had said all along. I never did anything intentionally. It said that there was no evidence of dishonesty or deliberacy.

“It was a very complex system and I regret making mistakes. “I claim very few expenses now and they are all placed on the PCC website for anyone to see.

“I have also learnt a lesson about speedy justice.

“This was a very long investigation and I shudder to think how much it cost - possible tens of thousands of pounds.

“It was hanging over my head for more than a year and did not make doing my job any easier.

“We want to see a system where justice is as speedy as possible while completing investigations properly.

“We need to reduce delays before and when cases get to court. “Unnecessary delays cause concern to those accused, to the victims of crime and cost the police time and money.

“I think these allegations were politically motivated and Mr Chapman should accept the conclusions of the CPS after a very lengthy and thorough investigation.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission launched the investigation over alleged discrepancies in his expenses before winning the November 2012 commissioner election.

Mr Chapman alleged Mr Grunshaw had ‘double claimed’ for meetings of the county council and police authority in Preston on the same days from his Fleetwood home on 23 occasions.

Mr Chapman said: “It is clearly nonsense to claim that my complaint was politically motivated. “I look forward to the publication of the IPCC report when we can all see the evidence and try to understand the CPS decision.”

Comments (10)

Please have a word with your political friends rowing in the same sinking boat.

We’ve already had New Labour MP Janet Anderson disgraced and replaced over excessive expense claims and the general public are getting fed up with it all. I used to be able to trust councillors and MP’s to uphold that position but no more. Little difference between any of them. Just a career move and nothing more. On the whole they only survive after finding themselves safe seats where they hold biased power to do anything no matter how ineffective they have become.

Safe seat politicians - Easy come easy go!

The only skills needed to be either a councillor or an MP is to find a safe seat somewhere and have the ability to ignore and brush aside criticism without feeling guilt.

After all said and done politicians are only on benefits that are paid for by the general public and the public deserve and now demand better conduct than this!

Please have a word with your political friends rowing in the same sinking boat.
We’ve already had New Labour MP Janet Anderson disgraced and replaced over excessive expense claims and the general public are getting fed up with it all. I used to be able to trust councillors and MP’s to uphold that position but no more. Little difference between any of them. Just a career move and nothing more. On the whole they only survive after finding themselves safe seats where they hold biased power to do anything no matter how ineffective they have become.
Safe seat politicians - Easy come easy go!
The only skills needed to be either a councillor or an MP is to find a safe seat somewhere and have the ability to ignore and brush aside criticism without feeling guilt.
After all said and done politicians are only on benefits that are paid for by the general public and the public deserve and now demand better conduct than this!blackburnwithdarwen

Whatever the outcome of the investigation it still perplexes me as to why this
position was created in the first place along with it's vast amount of money to support it. I for one have not seen any benefits emanating from the Post nor do I expect to see any, spend the money on extra Police or even better locking up convicted people for longer rather than allowing them to walk about committing further crime.

Whatever the outcome of the investigation it still perplexes me as to why this
position was created in the first place along with it's vast amount of money to support it. I for one have not seen any benefits emanating from the Post nor do I expect to see any, spend the money on extra Police or even better locking up convicted people for longer rather than allowing them to walk about committing further crime.alf-abett

alf-abett wrote:
Whatever the outcome of the investigation it still perplexes me as to why this
position was created in the first place along with it's vast amount of money to support it. I for one have not seen any benefits emanating from the Post nor do I expect to see any, spend the money on extra Police or even better locking up convicted people for longer rather than allowing them to walk about committing further crime.

Spot on alf-abett. Even one of Clive's counterparts down South has said he can see no earthly reason why we need P&CCs.

[quote][p][bold]alf-abett[/bold] wrote:
Whatever the outcome of the investigation it still perplexes me as to why this
position was created in the first place along with it's vast amount of money to support it. I for one have not seen any benefits emanating from the Post nor do I expect to see any, spend the money on extra Police or even better locking up convicted people for longer rather than allowing them to walk about committing further crime.[/p][/quote]Spot on alf-abett. Even one of Clive's counterparts down South has said he can see no earthly reason why we need P&CCs.Izanears

Sheesh! Hopefully the guy has also learned how to accurately complete an expenses claim form which, I'd have thought, a bit basic for someone responsible for the multi-million pound budget of our Police Force.

Apart from completing documents accurately to avoid successful prosecution, has anyone heard anything of just what else it is that this man is supposed to do/has done?

Sheesh! Hopefully the guy has also learned how to accurately complete an expenses claim form which, I'd have thought, a bit basic for someone responsible for the multi-million pound budget of our Police Force.
Apart from completing documents accurately to avoid successful prosecution, has anyone heard anything of just what else it is that this man is supposed to do/has done?Timefor

So if this hadn't been the police & crime commissioner do you really think the cps would have dropped the case. I doubt it very much! This decision really does embarrass the justice system we have in place in this country.
Joe blogs on the street could not get away so easily but our dear Clive did.

It really is who you know!!!

Seeing as your out of this now how about doing something about cases which are dragged on for years, your police officers looking for evidence to make the case stick, regardless of the time or cost to the average working person.

So if this hadn't been the police & crime commissioner do you really think the cps would have dropped the case. I doubt it very much! This decision really does embarrass the justice system we have in place in this country.
Joe blogs on the street could not get away so easily but our dear Clive did.
It really is who you know!!!
Seeing as your out of this now how about doing something about cases which are dragged on for years, your police officers looking for evidence to make the case stick, regardless of the time or cost to the average working person.glossopkid

Nothing like a Tory scorned, Some of the comments on here are unbelievable. and I dare say libel. However the man was found not guilty. I hope he does sue the councillor who made the allegations. I agree with many people who can not see the purpose or need for such a post. just remember the election was not open to just anybody as it required a substantial deposit which only political parties could afford. Time to scrap the post, and the Tories police cuts along with it.

Nothing like a Tory scorned, Some of the comments on here are unbelievable. and I dare say libel. However the man was found not guilty. I hope he does sue the councillor who made the allegations. I agree with many people who can not see the purpose or need for such a post. just remember the election was not open to just anybody as it required a substantial deposit which only political parties could afford. Time to scrap the post, and the Tories police cuts along with it.mavrick

mavrick wrote:
Nothing like a Tory scorned, Some of the comments on here are unbelievable. and I dare say libel. However the man was found not guilty. I hope he does sue the councillor who made the allegations. I agree with many people who can not see the purpose or need for such a post. just remember the election was not open to just anybody as it required a substantial deposit which only political parties could afford. Time to scrap the post, and the Tories police cuts along with it.

Mavrick, I am not a Tory scorned. If you read my post again it will hopefully explain to you that the justice system should be equal for all in our society. Do you not think that if this had not been the police & crime commissioner the case would have gone to court. I surely think so!!!
Now this is my opinion, you can either agree or disagree with it!

[quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote:
Nothing like a Tory scorned, Some of the comments on here are unbelievable. and I dare say libel. However the man was found not guilty. I hope he does sue the councillor who made the allegations. I agree with many people who can not see the purpose or need for such a post. just remember the election was not open to just anybody as it required a substantial deposit which only political parties could afford. Time to scrap the post, and the Tories police cuts along with it.[/p][/quote]Mavrick, I am not a Tory scorned. If you read my post again it will hopefully explain to you that the justice system should be equal for all in our society. Do you not think that if this had not been the police & crime commissioner the case would have gone to court. I surely think so!!!
Now this is my opinion, you can either agree or disagree with it!glossopkid